Socialist Party of Indonesia (Parsi)
Encyclopedia
The Socialist Party of Indonesia was a political party
in Indonesia
. It was founded at a meeting in Jogjakarta
on November 13, 1945. The Defence Minister Amir Sjarifuddin
was the chairman of the party. Parsi was largely made up by Amir Sjarifuddin's former colleagues from the wartime resistance struggle in East Java
. Some of then originated in Gerindo ('Indonesian People's Movement'), a leftwing
, nationalist and pro-Sukarno
group active before the war. There were also some persons, like Abdulmadjid, Moewaladi and Tamzil, who had lived in the Netherlands
during the war, and taken part in the anti-fascist resistance struggle
there. The primary objective of Parsi was the independence of Indonesia from colonial rule, which was to be followed by the construction of a socialist society.
In December 1945, at a meeting in Cheribon, the party merged with the Socialist People's Party
(Paras), forming the Socialist Party
with Amir Sjarifuddin as vice-chairman. However, even after the merger, the erstwhile Parsi and Paras groups continued to exist as factions inside in the new party. Generally speaking, the former Parsi members represented a more radical and populist line. In August 1948, when Sjahrir and his followers had left the Socialist Party, the Party issued a statement of self-criticism
. The statement said that whilst Parsi had been founded by underground communists, it had not taken the shape of a communist party
. Moreover, the statement lamented the merger with the 'rightwing' and 'reformist' Paras. Largely, the former Parsi members stayed were the ones who stayed in the Socialist Party whilst former Paras members left alongside Sjahrir. There were however some notable exceptions, like Wijono (who had been a Parsi militant, but ended up as one of the main leaders of Sjahrir's party).
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. It was founded at a meeting in Jogjakarta
Yogyakarta (city)
Yogyakarta is a city in the Yogyakarta Special Region, Indonesia. It is renowned as a centre of classical Javanese fine art and culture such as batik, ballet, drama, music, poetry, and puppet shows. Yogyakarta was the Indonesian capital during the Indonesian National Revolution from 1945 to...
on November 13, 1945. The Defence Minister Amir Sjarifuddin
Amir Sjarifuddin
Amir Sjarifuddin Harahap, also spelled Amir Sjarifoeddin Harahap was a socialist politician and one of the Indonesian Republic's first leaders, becoming Prime Minister during the country's National Revolution. A Christian convert from a Muslim Batak family, Amir was a major leader of the Left...
was the chairman of the party. Parsi was largely made up by Amir Sjarifuddin's former colleagues from the wartime resistance struggle in East Java
East Java
East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and islands to its east and to its north East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and...
. Some of then originated in Gerindo ('Indonesian People's Movement'), a leftwing
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
, nationalist and pro-Sukarno
Sukarno
Sukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo was the first President of Indonesia.Sukarno was the leader of his country's struggle for independence from the Netherlands and was Indonesia's first President from 1945 to 1967...
group active before the war. There were also some persons, like Abdulmadjid, Moewaladi and Tamzil, who had lived in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
during the war, and taken part in the anti-fascist resistance struggle
Dutch resistance
Dutch resistance to the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands during World War II can be mainly characterized by its prominent non-violence, summitting in over 300,000 people in hiding in the autumn of 1944, tended to by some 60,000 to 200,000 illegal landlords and caretakers and tolerated knowingly...
there. The primary objective of Parsi was the independence of Indonesia from colonial rule, which was to be followed by the construction of a socialist society.
In December 1945, at a meeting in Cheribon, the party merged with the Socialist People's Party
Socialist People's Party (Indonesia)
The Socialist People's Party was a political party in Indonesia. It was founded in Djakarta in 1945. Sutan Sjahrir was the chairman of the party. In December 1945, at a meeting in Cheribon, the party merged with the Socialist Party of Indonesia, forming the Socialist Party with Sjahrir as chairman....
(Paras), forming the Socialist Party
Socialist Party (Indonesia)
The Socialist Party was a political party in Indonesia. It was founded in December 1945 at a meeting in Cheribon, as the Socialist People's Party of Prime Minister Sutan Sjahrir and the Socialist Party of Indonesia of Defence Minister Sjarifuddin merged...
with Amir Sjarifuddin as vice-chairman. However, even after the merger, the erstwhile Parsi and Paras groups continued to exist as factions inside in the new party. Generally speaking, the former Parsi members represented a more radical and populist line. In August 1948, when Sjahrir and his followers had left the Socialist Party, the Party issued a statement of self-criticism
Self-criticism
Self-criticism refers to the pointing out of things critical/important to one's own beliefs, thoughts, actions, behaviour or results; it can form part of private, personal reflection or a group discussion.-Philosophy:...
. The statement said that whilst Parsi had been founded by underground communists, it had not taken the shape of a communist party
Communist party
A political party described as a Communist party includes those that advocate the application of the social principles of communism through a communist form of government...
. Moreover, the statement lamented the merger with the 'rightwing' and 'reformist' Paras. Largely, the former Parsi members stayed were the ones who stayed in the Socialist Party whilst former Paras members left alongside Sjahrir. There were however some notable exceptions, like Wijono (who had been a Parsi militant, but ended up as one of the main leaders of Sjahrir's party).